Computers in Writing-Intensive Classrooms (CIWIC) offers three institutes for 2005:

• Approaches to Integrating Computers (AIC)
• Integrating New Media (NM)
• Independent Projects (IP)

Which institute is right for you? See the descriptions and contents of each institute below. If you would like further information on which institute would best fit your needs, please contact Associate Director, Alex Ilyasova (see Contact & Registration for detailed contact info).

Approaches to Integrating Computers (AIC)
CIWIC-AIC offers teachers and scholars innovative approaches to integrate computer technology in meaningful ways within classrooms, programs, and departments. Particpants explore how computers can support mutltiple literacies—alphabetic, visual, and multimodal—in the design of assignments and syllabi, curricula and programs, and computer-based classrooms/facilities. Participants

• design, create, and use web texts; online portfolios; digital movies, snapshots, and online compositions;
• experiment with different genres of electronic writing and composition, visual representation, real-time discussions, and digitized primary resources (e.g., letters, photographs, maps, sound files);
• explore the complex issues of access, equity, agency, and literacy—using the perspectives of both theory and practice to unpack these important concepts.

This workshops focuses on the needs of students and faculty as they employ computers thoughtfully and in support of their own educational goals and in light of the specific context at their home institutions.

Knowledgeable student consultants provide individualized assistance and support as participants learn and explore technologies. All instruction takes place in a computer lab/classroom nationally recognized as a model of excellence. [Sample syllabus in PDF format] [See the "Where's Cindy?!" movie created by Albert Sheen, a CIWIC 2002 participant.]

AIC Pre-requisites
CIWIC-AIC is open to educators at all levels: two-and four-year teachers of English studies; elementary teachers of language arts; graduate students in programs related to composition, rhetoric, and technical communication studies; writing center and writing program administrators, etc.

This workshop is where most participants choose to start in the CIWIC program because it focuses on issues that are broadly pedagogical in nature. Minimal computer experience is required (e.g., basic word-rpocessing), but a healthy sense of humor, an active curiosity, and a personal commitment to both teaching and learning will help a great deal.

Integrating New Media (NM)
CIWIC-NM will help participants develop approaches to teaching the interpretation and development of new media texts within writing-intensive classrooms and programs. Through the process of composing their own multimedia texts (with plenty of cheery and thoughtful hands-on assistance), participants will consider how compositional and rhetorical approaches to writing carry over into the interactive and intensely visual places of computer screens. Participants will return to their institutions with teaching assignments and plans, with materials to support teaching visual as well as verbal rhetorics, and with knowledge of and comfort with supporting technologies. Like CIWIC-AIC, this institute focuses on people and their teaching and learning goals, and seeks to help them gain critical ease with new technologies. [Sample syllabus]

NM Pre-requisites
CIWIC-NM is open to educators at all levels: two-and four-year teachers of English studies; elementary teachers of language arts; graduate students in programs related to composition, rhetoric, and technical communication studies; writing center and writing program administrators, etc.

This workshop is for participants who already have some experience integrating computers into classrooms and programs, but want to focus on developing and thinking about new media texts and assignments for their classrooms and programs. The focus in this workshop is on the composition of new media texts and on new and exciting ways of thinking about the visual as well as verbal texts.

This workshop is designed for participants with more experience using technology in the classroom. Knowledge of at least one graphics software package is useful because the workshop will focus on developing new media texts and assignments for classrooms and programs. Basic familiarity with computers is required.

Independent Projects (IP)
CIWIC-IP is an institute for past CIWIC participants interested in working on a specific project. Attendees design topics, and intense, project-focused one-on-one support will be provided. Past participants have worked on designing distance education courses that use e-mail, the World Wide Web, and Instructional Television; designing a writing-intensive, technology-rich curriculum for graduate students in teacher education; and designing a Web-based student publication realm using Perl, JavaScript, and CGI scripting.

IP Pre-requisites
CIWIC-IP is open only to participants who have attended CIWIC in the past and wish to do further study or develop projects.

Participants must submit a proposal for their project by February 15, 2005; proposals will be reviewed and final acceptance sent by March 1, 2005. So that we can provide access to appropriate tools, personnel, and resources, proposals must include a description of a focused project; a list of goals and desired outcomes; and specific needs, wants, and support system.